Condolences to the family and friends of Oleg Popov 2016-11-03 18:00:00 Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to the family and friends of the late National Artist of the USSR Oleg Popov. The message reads, in part: “The death of Oleg Popov is an irreparable loss for his family, fellow circus performers and all the admirers of his bright talent. A world-renowned performer and a real master of his art, he stayed true to the calling of sharing his kindness with others until the very end.” Oleg Popov, who was known the world over as the Sunshine Clown, died at 86 in Rostov-on-Don. He continued performing until his death, starting a big Russia tour in the winter of 2016. His last performances took place in Rostov-on-Don.